Ryan Zimmerman insisted last night he would play tonight after missing one game with a tight back. Well, Zimmerman insists today he could play, but Davey Johnson didn't want to take any chances, so the Nationals third baseman is sidelined again.

On the bright side, Adam LaRoche is returning to the lineup after missing time with his own back issue. The first baseman will bat fifth, with Michael Morse directly in front of him and none other than Chad Tracy batting third and playing third base for the first-place Nats. Yep.

Edwin Jackson gets the start tonight against the Phillies, who send Vance Worley to the mound and will have the newly acquire Nate Schierholtz in right field and the recently promoted Domonic Brown in left field.

Good lord, calm down guys. One game with Tracy at 3rd isn't the end of the world. Better to give Zim another day off, can you really question Davy and Rizzo after what they have put togher? And besides, "infield help" would have meant some light hitting utility player at 3rd tonight, not exactly better than Tracy. We give up some fielding for a bat. It beats DeRosa.

Uh….there is a long history of one game being much more that one game with Zim and Nats in general….AND it is not just Tracy….DeRosa in many ways is even worse….you do not win the division or even make the playoffs with those type of solutions.

JayB, Tracy is starting for an injured 3rd baseman. Do you think we should also have Adrian Beltre in reserve in case Zim gets hurt? The necessary moves involve giving away pieces at inflated prices; in other words teams out of the running use this opportunity to raid your system while they get rid of bloated expensive contracts.

I'm setting aside money for playoff tickets, however much they cost, even if I have to drain my savings account. 222, let's just say Rizzo is hedging his bets. He is definitely NOT going all in for 2012. If he were, Det would be in the bullpen and Greinke would be on the team, along with Shoppach.I just hope Tracy is in good condition and warmed up because let's not get injured again, ok?

'you do not win the division or even make the playoffs with those type of solutions.' And yet we are 20 games over .500 with the 2nd best record in the majors (by half a game) while missing: Morse, Zim, Desi for significant periods of time. What a dope that Rizzo is.

Hmmm I tend to side with JayB on this one … the guy is coming off of hernia surgery and admits he can't move well? I just hope NFABrian is clairevoyant and they manage to get Jed Lowrie from the Astros through a waiver wire trade. I guess he can play short as well. Or Stephen Drew … and honestly since he is on the 40-man I'd rather see Carlos Rivero at third for Zim since he can play that position pretty well.

NL, Rizzo just won't give away prospects for rentals; he's all about building a team which contends every year not just this year so in that sense I agree that he's not all in. I don't think that this is just a 2012 thing. I think that this is part of Rizzo's and the rest of the brain trust's overall philosophy.

NatsLady said…He is definitely NOT going all in for 2012. If he were, Det would be in the bullpen and Greinke would be on the team, along with ShoppachI agree and that is why I think Rizzzo is a great GM. I see an upside down the road by not making an impulsive mistake and giving away the future to win it all this season.What is under rated by most fans I think is the closeness in the club house for a 162 game season. I believe that teams that are a player away of being dominant will be at the top of any super free agent looking for an organization that is loyal to its players.

We will be lucky to see Ian in early September from the sound of things. DeRosa wasn't awesome last night so why the heck not try Tracy? If they're holding out Zimm the must have a good reason. It's not like they're trying to field an inferior team. Well, not "Inferior" but you know what I mean. GYFNG!

Rizzo just won't give away prospects for rentals;I'm sure they checked with Grienke to see how he felt about an extension. You can bet real money on that. They can always wait until the offseason to bid for his services then. And they may need them if EJax leaves. It would still leave them with plenty of flexibility at the back-end of the rotation for up-and-coming power pitching prospects … but they may be get thrown in for injuries. This has been a rare year pitching injury wise for the major league roster. All the serious injuries to pitchers all occurred in the minors instead of to the major league pitching staff.

JD, yes. He said exactly that on the radio today. He said there were several deals that were "close" in the morning, but nothing worked for the right price. Bottom line is, Rizzo is simply not desperate. I think he hopes the current cast of characters will get to the playoffs–and I think he'll watch the waiver wire like the proverbial hawk–but as he said, the team was built during the winter. Davey clearly said he didn't want Bixler types on his bench. The problem is that with DeRosa's bat not working, we ended up with one.

Mick – The 15 day retroactive DL rule is the minimum amount of time. It could go 20 or 30. With the situation like Werth they moved him to the 60 Day because on the 60 Day you don't count against the 40 man roster.

Peric, I think the Angels have a big leg up as far as Greinke long term. They have historically been able to lock up their 'rentals'. This is especially true if they go deep into the playoffs this year.

I think the Angels have a big leg up as far as Greinke long term. Unfortunately, probably true given their new TV contract however Grienke does consider the Nats an interesting team. He is a baseball geek after all. You just never know …

Another_Sam said…Has anyone here spoken about the elephant in the room: Bryce has quit hitting?good point..Two things on Bryce1)he is struggling verse lefty's who throw great off speed sinkers. This will not be solved until next Spring training in my view2) I think he is ailing abit physicallyThe good news is that I think he will recover and I think Davey needs to platoon him against those type of pitchers the rest of the season

NL — I agree he's not "all in for 2012," at least not in the conventional sense of selling the farm to try to win with rentals this year. (Seems like that's what the Dodgers are doing, and they aren't even in that good a position to do succeed.) And that's fine with me. I want a dynasty. I have no interest in expensive rentals that make the team worse in the mid-term.Maybe I'm too much of a lawyer, but there's a big difference between eschewing rentals and stupid trades and "playing for next year," which would suggest that he's assuming that all the pieces will come together next year without spending or trading and so he'll just ride out whatever happens this year and not worry about it if we fall short. I don't think that's his view, or at least I hope it's not.

Which would be a concern if Zim was out for more than a couple of days.I'm not sure playing the "B" lineup against an Eastern Division foe like the Phillies makes sense even if they are having a down year. Resting veterans is fine but couldn't it wait for the Astro's?

Rizzo is a good GM and a really baseball guy. I like that a lot….it is very important…that said he does make a lot of mistakes….just that his wins are big wins and they cover up the bad moves. I know…like all GM's but that said….Rizzo blew the International Signings again….he was wrong on Maya and Martin begin major impact players at the MLB level…..ever let alone right away…he was wrong of A Chapman not being worth the money. He was wrong on endless Bench Bats over 5 years. He has to improve or he will just be a good GM who never wins a playoff game. They need to do what they can this year to win….nothing is not a solution.

I don't think that's his view, or at least I hope it's not.Its not. They'll have all offseason to check in with free agents and attempt to make the kind of trades they consider "upgrades" to the current roster. Those trades usually take a month or so not days and hours. Rizzo and Clark have a model of what they want the major league product and system to look like. Its a work in progress. Davey claims to wholeheartedly share that philosophy and will likely rejoin the think tank sometime in the near future.

I didn't look into this, but it seems the Nats have a bad record after road trips with a day off at the end. They seem to lose the home opener, then do well after that. I guess we will see tonight. (are they partying on that day off?).

Old Wino said…I didn't look into this, but it seems the Nats have a bad record after road trips with a day off at the end. They seem to lose the home opener, then do well after that. I guess we will see tonight. (are they partying on that day off?hey bro, love to know I got a fellow wino with me LOL

I agree with NatsLady – rizzo and the organization ( and me) HOPE we get to the post season with what we have, but they are not so desperate for it that they are going to make moves that are not good for the long term. I completely support that. I posted this morning that I think the first place/ playoff mania has made everyone temporarily lose their perspective. I think Bryce and Stras are both being affected by it. I love this team, I think they are talented and exciting, but I am not quite sure they have the experience and maturity to go all the way. I see this year as a stepping stone – and a HUGE one. They have seriously over- achieved this season, which has been very amazing. I don't want them making short-sighted moves that compromise the next five years. And that includes, pushing Strassie, handling Bryce differently,and paying too high a cost for rental players.

Apparently, Greinke has a great personality and was much loved by his teammates. I don't think that was the issue, it was more his "anxiety" issues, and the feeling he would not fare well in a large market with an aggressive media corps (such as NY or Boston)–something like the situation with A.J. Burnett. In the case of the Nationals, I think it was just the price. I think he would have come and he would have fit in fine but it would mean Det going to the bullpen and Lannan not having another chance.

but it would mean Det going to the bullpen and Lannan not having another chance.Only because the injuries Rizzo feared from the past years' experiences did not occur to the pitching staff and rotation. And one at least WILL occur Stras will be shut down and likely very soon opening a spot. Given Lannan's AAA performance I suspect he will break quite a few hearts when he comes back to pitch again. He typically gets rocked three times for each good outing. He is pushing close to a 6 ERA. If it were anyone else they would have been moved to the Chief's bullpen by now.

I see Nats ladySwami, very well said, i have posted as well a few times that I do not think 2012 really should be the season that we expect to be world champs or even NL champs. we are ahead of schedule which is great, but it should not be accelerated if it could jeopardize the master plan.Say what you want about charlie Manuel but i think he was spot on when in April of 2011 he said the Nats will be a playoff team for the next decade beginning in either 2013 or 2014I know Peric feels you cease opportunity when you have it… I get that, but sometimes in doing so, what could have been a bright future could be in preril

Peric,You are a really annoying pessimist and make this blog no fun to read. Go back to World of Warcraft in your mom's basement or whatever hole you live in and let the rest of us enjoy this blog.You're a tool and clearly know nothing about baseball.

So in cheerier news – AK reports that Zim's shoulder continues to feel just great! And – everyone's favorite song "Nuts about the Nats" is apparently making a resurgence. Just in case there are any Philly fans in the house tonight, that should drive them away forever. Just about as cheesy as " Hey Chicago , what do you say, Cubs are going to win today",which they actually sing at the END of the game, despite using the future tense. I know, grammar police.

Have any of our relievers been to the playoffs? Mike Gonzalez, maybe? The bullpen is key, even more than the starting rotation. All teams in the playoffs will have good rotations, because they can chop of their No. 5 and probably their No. 4 starter. So the pressure will be on the bullpen. What I'm saying is, there is another area where the team does not have playoff experience.

You are a really annoying pessimist and make this blog no fun to read. Go back to World of Warcraft in your mom's basement or whatever hole you live in and let the rest of us enjoy this blog.And you are old and weak and I am YOUNG and Strong troll.

Bryce needs cookies almost as much as Det does. He is 19, does he even know how to feed himself properly as a professional athlete? He looks thin and pale. And he looks like he needs his mom. I think having Jayson around will help him a lot, he probably misses rick, too. Those guys were keeping his head on straight.

peric, you and I are in agreement on this. A lot of the overachievement this year has been because the rotation was healthy (to date) and Det filled in admirably for CMW. Davey/Rizzo and the minor-league promotions have overcome injuries to the position players.

Hey Darin. Peric is entitled to his opinion. Like jammage said last night, talk about baseball. Don't insult people you don't know. Now, I expect this team to be no better then 10 over .500 by Labor day. Injuries mounting up

He looks thin and pale. And he looks like he needs his mom.I'm sure if he needed her his mom would be there … a lot of it is mental Swami as a 19 year old full of hustle (and amazingly he still is a ball of energy) you probably laugh at 162 baseball games. Something he loves to do. Then he finds out what the grind of a long, drawn out grueling 162 major league season can be like. The mental part of the game can be exhausting if you are still learning. The emotional ups and downs can be steep. An analogy like going to college after kicking ass in high school and getting overwhelmed in the quarter system. You still have a lot of energy. You can still run the stadium stairs 3-10 times (because YOU can, and boy I loved that!). But you still feel like you might only be treading water as the assignments and exams pile up. Its the mental grind I bet.

Mick – I do hope they get some experience to toughen them up. Although carrying first place in this division on their backs with Atlanta breathing down their necks has not been easy. Some of our younger guys are getting a couple of seasons worth of experience in a big hurry.They have been amazing and playing way over any expectations with tons of injuries – just don't think we should get mad at them if they return to the levels of mere mortals now and then. We may have a terrible streak and lose some games – we also might rebound and have another hot streak. There's 2 full months and 60 games to go.

Peric – agreed that it's mental. He has no peers, no one his age to be 19 with. On the field he knows who he is. Off the field it's another story. It has got to be lonely at times. And I am not kidding about losing Werth and Ankiel.

agreed swami… I think they will hang in and I see them at 90-91 wins and, in post season, even if its the one game bump, it will still be valuable. Ideally, if they played in the single elimination game, won that and played in 3-4 more post season games, that would be fine.They should be in this to the end and that in sense is like post season

Swami, Bryce has some sort of virus over the weekend and was vomitting. That could explain the pale and thin. But cookies would be good just in case.Let's hope last nights lackluster performance is in the rear view mirror. It will be interesting to see the Good Squad captain at 3B.Have to go look at the "P"/2013 season ticket email.. see how much this is going to set me back!GYFNG!!!

I think Bryce is truly the happiest when he is at the field playing baseball, talking baseball – anything baseball. He is just such a good kid and puts so much pressure on himself. He brings out the parental feelings in me so much. I just want to hug him and tell him it's going to be ok.

Secret wasian man said: "Now, I expect this team to be no better then 10 over .500 by Labor day. Injuries mounting up."What would make you say injuries are mounting up? Seems to be going in the other direction. Unless we hear that RZim's back or ALR's back are more serious than just the normal discomfort that a lot of ballplayers go through heading into August, they're not losing players, rather, they're getting players back from injuries. Tracy tonight, Werth soon, Desmond at some point in August (we hope) and Storen finding his stuff after missing the first half. They're losing Strasburg at some point in September, but they can afford to lose their no. 3 starter for the last 2 or 3 weeks.

Hey, can I get some bets going?Secret wasian man said…Now, I expect this team to be no better then 10 over .500 by Labor day. Injuries mounting upSecret — wanna bet? I'll bet you that they end up more than 10 games over .500 by Labor Day. (Snicker, like we haven't had injuries before in this season?)(Dude, I think we'd have to play less than .350 ball until then. I'm not sure that even the worst team in the majors can go that bad. But, heck, you make the assertion, let's bet!)JayB said…you do not win the division or even make the playoffs with those type of solutions.JayB, wanna bet? I'll bet that they do make the playoffs.

Okay.. so just made reservations to go to St Louis for the Nats Series in September! One of my best friends lives out there and is having a Nats party that weekend! I love it. #Natitude spreading in the Midwest!

Lots of angst for a team that's won eight of its last 10. Admittedly, the Braves are charging (17 of 21, or something like that), but that's not sustainable. And it's not like last night's game represented the fourth or fifth embarrassing blowout in a row. Yes, the Nats are banged up a bit, but so is every team in baseball. Think back to previous Augusts — both with the Nats and other teams — and you'll recall patched together line-ups among even the best-of-the-best teams. It's a 162-game schedule, after all. I'm not suggesting the Nats are going to stay at .600; I'm not even sure they'll win the division. But enjoy the best baseball Washington has seen since [fill in the blank depending on your preference, but it's at least 40-plus years ago].

I am sick of Bo Porter sending runners when they have little or no chance. Aggressive baserunning is one thing but suicide is another.And to send your starting pitcher into a certain home plate collision is idiotic.

If a 3rd base coach is going to be aggressive, he's going to run some guys into outs. You can't be one without the other.The other day, EJax took third from first on a single. Everybody applauded EJax then — he ended up scoring.Sunday in Milwaukee (and I may have missed it, but I didn't see anybody give Bo credit on this one), he sent RZ on a play to the plate where RZ would/might have been out had the catcher held on to the ball. Instead, it ended up being the winning run.Calling him out whenever there is an out at home is lame. You gotta judge the good with the bad.

Off the top of my head I can remember Ankiel, Morse and Harper looking back at Bo after getting nailed at the plate by several feet. Add in the couple of games in a row that he held guys up on well placed sac flies and evidently this Bo don't know.Great DP on the bunt, though.

And Wonk, as the TV announcers noticed, Jackson has not been as sharp this inning after his adventures on the bases. Thrown out at home after a slide. End of inning. Now go pitch. Ain't as sharp. Thanks Bo.

Excellent point Eugene, we seem to be the only ones enjoying this tonight. The boys score two in the first, and not one "way to go".Test the arms of this cobbled together outfield, and the comments fly. We are having a great season folks, enjoy the positives.

DC Wonk yes being aggressive with the lead is fine but being aggressive with your starting pitcher is foolish in my book especially with this team. I asked facetiously when Bo sent Harper who had a swollen foot and there was a play at the plate if he would have sent Strasburg and I was called out for it and rightly so. No point in putting your starting pitcher in a collision with the catcher if you can help it.

I'm an inning or two posting this but is Bo insane sending the pitcher not yet past third base when the left fielder is holding the ball? he is terrible; always has been.meanwhile: Ejax better stop grooving his pitches.

Jamie Maclaggan said… An 8-man pen is just not possible in the NL. Is there really a need for Gorzelanny and Gonzalez?Why not? Gorzy has been invaluable in the long roll, saving innings and saving the bullpen for other nights. Gonzo is our LOOGY. Sean Burnett is the eighth inning guy when the matchups are favorable.Davey hasn't really been caught short of players the entire year.It'll be moot with MPH Rod conveniently goes on the DL (that back, you know, wink, wink) when Werth is activated.

there's lots of Nat's scoring left to do tonight. I can't see Worley escaping the lineup another go round.Laroche swinging on 3-0 was a little rash — Porter did give a potential run away earlier.Jackson has suddenly lost it.

Random thought: Isnt it time we consider moving or just releasing (at least not playing) Derosa? He appears to be all used up, hitting .140 and striking out four times last night? That's enough for me. Enter Werth: Exit Derosa — and Thanks for Coming.

NatsFanSinceStart I actually agree, I think what I should have said is I hate the Marlins team but I hate the Phillies fans. So what's up here? Leave the offense in Milwaukee? Wake the heck up here!! No panic, not on the ledge………. yet.

It's not Zim's decision – he said he wanted to play, Davey said no. By the way – on twitter everyone is freaking out over the low attendance. I don't think they realize that everyone but us is super into the olympics.

I don't think that is a shockingly low crowd at all, given that the Nats seem to be in cruise mode. Johnson generally has done a good job but this is a bit ridiculous to be filling the line-up with light hitters.Flores can't hit. Our lead-off hitter is about the weakest lead-off hitter that I have ever seen on a first place team. Espinosa is in a slump and Davey decides to give our best hitter two days off. I guess that is the sort of luxury you can give yourself when you are five games in front.

That is a good point. The Nationals have really dominated against teams like Colorado and Miami. Sarcasm.I have a bad feeling about the starting pitching. Maybe Strasburg and Gonzalez are about to hit the wall anyway. That leaves us with a great J. Zimmerman and competent pitchers in Jackson and Detweiler, but hardly a juggernaut unless Harper returns to form.I am not a big fan of the way we run the bases in close games. With the exception of Harper and Bernadina, we have no guys who should be running, but Riggleman and Johnson continue to do so anyway. I am calling this one, which is a shame because there is little excuse for dropping this game and most of it is on the manager tonight.

William O. Douglas Loeffleragree with most of what you are saying, but I cannot blame Davey for LaRoche's DP and Ejax decisions on pitching Rollins. Those mistakes are on those players, what is frustrating is that they both are veteran players, not rookies

Which team is in last. It would seem the guys in blue. Should have never sent jejax home. And alr swinging on 3 and 0 pitch is awful. Det tomorrow. Looks like a sweep by the last place phils in our park. YUCK

Jackson's gopher balls were disappointing, especially because they were all jacked in a game that we haven't even gotten to the warning track, but still, is Jackson only supposed to give up one run every time he pitches? They need to get Lombo out of the line-up–.317 obp with little power, is not getting it done. Move Harper to lead-off and figure out how to get Corey and Moore in more. Flores is either worn down or being exposed. This will not work in late innings in the post-season. One or two games mean little but these are not just hiccups. We are seeing some real weaknesses becoming apparent.

Harper should be leading off. He has a good eye and as lead-off, he can walk every single time, for all we care. He already is our second most patient hitter, and he has the possibility of manufacturing runs. With the possible exception of Bernadina, who doesn't start, we don't have any other viable lead-off guys.

here is what is positive, Nats were competitive after last nights embarrassing loss. If we lose 2 in a row, so what, every team has had some skids. I was worried that they would come out and lay an egg, at least they are playing hard again, last night was the first time all season i thought the nats laid down due to fatigue both mentally and physically

I actually don't get the feeling that we are playing all that hard, but how can you tell from television? To me, this game has been played with little or no energy or anxiety, if you will. I will agree that two games mean little, but one might think that the players have taken the wrong meaning from the front office not doing deals.We know our offense is highly variable. What is more concerning is that both Gonazalez and Strasburg lost their cool on the mound, in a visible fashion while getting roughed up. That doesn't hack it in the post-season.

Secret wasian man said "This game was lost in early innings when instead of being patient we ran ourselves out of the inning."Patience just isn't part of this team's DNA. Davey likes to attribute it to inexperience. I sure hope it doesn't hinder our playoff chances down the road.

I disagree. No harm no foul, when you lose 8-0 and the second place team losses. When you work to lose a game they you lead by 2 runs, doing so by deliberately not playing your best player, that is harm. You just blew picking up a game in the standings. It is only one game but tomorrow game is at best a pick 'em.

That second place team whipped those Phil's. Let's get our best players in the game. You can rest when the season is over. I luv the post game show. It's so great to hear all the excuses made for this team.

Nobody is on a ledge, but if you ask me if I still think we have the best team in the National League, I am not sure. I am not sure that we even have the best staff in the National League. I think we have the best pitcher in the N.L. There really is no excuse for not playing LaRoche or Zimmerman. This isn't football and we are not the Yankees. De Rosa and Flores and Tracy are not going to knock in many runs.

Remember we swept the Giants and embarrassed their staff. That and fifty cents will get us a cup of coffee in October.BABIP. Learn, love it, know it. Wee Willie Keeler understood it, but baseball fans to this day tend not to…. I am not saying BABIP is infallible but it tells the story quite often.